Barbara was born, lived and worked in Chester-le-street. She was the only girl and had 6 brothers. She left school in 1951 and became a seamstress at Rodney Dress Company where she worked until her eldest daughter Linda was born in 1963. As a teenager and in her early 20's Barbara like going to the local dances at the Empire Ballroom in Chester-Le-Street and occasionally at the Oxford Galleries in Newcastle.